IT'S a far cry from the glitz of the Plaza Hotel.

IT'S a far cry from the glitz of the Plaza Hotel. Not for Cerys Matthews the glamour of a New York wedding or the exclusive picture deal with a celebrity magazine.

Instead, the singer has eschewed the Hollywood road taken by compatriot Catherine Zeta Jones and will tie the knot today in a small country chapel overlooking the sea.

The 33-year-old - who grew up in Swansea, and later lived in Pembrokeshire before hitting the big time with her band Catatonia - has returned to her roots for her big day.

She is due to marry Nashville music producer Seth Riddle in the Rehoboth Chapel near Mathry, North Pembrokeshire, this afternoon.

The grey-faced chapel is close to the village of Trefin where her retired surgeon father Philip's family originated, and where he and her mother Pauline now live in a former cliff-top farmhouse.

It is rumoured the bride will ride to the church on a vintage tractor, but yesterday she drove herself to the wedding rehearsal in a more conventional form of transport.

Dressed in a purple velvet coat and wearing sunglasses, she ignored a small group of reporters waiting for her at the gate.

"We're looking forward to all of it," was all she said before being escorted into the flower-decked chapel by the groom.

Villagers, who have become adept at keeping wedding details secret from Fleet Street's finest, could hardly hold back their excitement.

Many plan to line the route she will take today from her parents' house to the chapel, just in case any of the celebrities rumoured to be coming, such as Tom Jones and Bob Dylan, do turn up.

"It's exciting. It's been fun wondering whether Tom Jones will turn up. It's been the most wonderful time for speculation," said Angela Samuel of the village's Oriel-y-Felin gallery and tea room.

"Everyone wishes her well, especially after the tough time she has had recently."

Colleague Pauline Beynon said, "We've not met her, but her family are really nice people.

"If the weather is anything like today, it will be fantastic."

Friend Meriel Murphy, who now runs the Ship Inn, and with whom the singer once cleaned beaches on a summer job, said "We're all very happy for Cerys. It's nice that she's come back to the area to get married.

"It doesn't really surprise me. She really does like that kind of thing. She likes the countryside."

Overlooking the Irish Sea and Strumble Head, Rehoboth Chapel is in the heart of the country and probably as far away from the big city lifestyle as it is possible to get.

It was once a thriving place of worship for the farming community but has seen its regular congregation decline over the years.

Today's wedding will mark a rare return to its busy days of old and, when Cerys walks down the aisle, its 130 seats are expected to be full of friends and family as well as possibly the odd celebrity guest.

Minister Geoffrey Eynon said, "I've done dozens of weddings during my 25 years and it's an honour to be asked to officiate.

"It will be a traditional family wedding with close friends - a bilingual service with traditional hymns."

Organist Ruth Barker, who will play the chapel's small pipe-organ, said the traditional would also be mixed with some more modern musical surprises, "although nothing that would not be welcome to be played in chapel," she added.

After the service, the family are expected to leave for the nearby Trevacoon Country House Hotel, where some members of the wedding party have been staying.

The hotel is owned by Caroline Flynn, widow of the late actor Eric Flynn and father of Jerome Flynn of Soldier Soldier fame.

Later they will join guests at a party and reception at the Sloop Inn, Porthgain, which is not expected to finish until the early hours.

Yesterday, workmen were busy putting the finishing touches to a temporary wooden extension to the pub, which will be closed to the public from 3.30pm.

"She's a lovely girl, very down to earth," said Ruth Barker.

"It's been very exciting for the village and the exciting bit is that they've also kept secrets. Even wild horses would not drive out certain facts from them. I'm sure they are looking forward to it."

And as for those mystery celebrity guests, they were still staying tight- lipped yesterday. As Cerys once sang, a case for Mulder and Scully.